Lamp-supporting device.



R. B. BENJAMIN.

LAMP SUPPORTING IBVICE.

APPLxcATIoN FILED 11911.22, 1911. RENEWED DBO. 1o, 1913.

1,088,868. Patented Mar.3,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@Mam e. 91,19 1km 'QWQML' R. B. BENJAMIN.

LAMP SUPPORTING DEVICE. l APPLIGATION FILED AP11.22, 1911. RENEWBD DB0. 10,1913x 1,088,868. Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. B. BENJAMIN.

LAMP SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. z2, 1911. RENEWBD DBO. 1o, 1913.

1,088,868,A 'Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@LMMQQQW UNITED sTaTEs PATENT oEEICE.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, `ASSIGrNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LAMP-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

Application filed April 22, 1911, Serial No. 622,658. Renewed December 10, 1913. Serial No. 805,865.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJA- MIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Supporting Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being whad to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

.My invention pertains to lamp supporting devices; and relates particularly to lamp sockets of a ycharacter adapted to be connected in series relation in high voltage circuits.

It is the object of my invention to irnprove upon'lamp sockets of the above chan acter.

An embodiment of my invention is shown, by way of example, in the laccompanying drawings, and described in the following specification. Changes may be made, however, in the construction shown, without exceeding the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims; similarly, the invention may be embodied in other constructions than that shown.

In the embodiment ofthe invention shown in the drawings, the socket is constructed in two parts,-one of which carries the bonding terminals and the center Contact, and the other of which carries the outer lamp contact; these parts are connected together by a bayonet joint, and are locked in their connected condition by plug having contacts adapted to support a dielectric between them. The two pai'ts of the socket will be referred to hereinafter as the body and lamp receiver respectively.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows the body as seen from below, with the lamp receiver removed; Fig. 2 is a plan of the body; Fig. 3 is an inverted sectional plan of the socket, showing the body and the lamp receiver in their connected condition; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the socket, the section being taken on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the plug-terminal-engaging contacts; Fig. G is a plan of the lamp receiver; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of thel dielectric-supporting plug; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the plug, the section being taken on the line S-S of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is. an inverted plan, on a reduced scale, of a lshade which may be used in connection with the socket shown in the precedin figures.

Re erring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1-5 thereof; 10 is an insulating base, which, with its supporting parts 'and the various contacts, etc., which it carries, constitutes, in the embodiment. of my invention shown in the drawings, the 1neniber which-I have termed the body As to its general contour and the manner of sup .porting it, the body does not differ materially from a similar member described in my copending application Serial No. 619,546, filed April 7th, 1911; and it is not, therefore, necessary to give a detailed description o'f these features. The base 10 is formed, at its lower side.with a cavity or chamber 11 for receiving the lamp receiver (to be described below) and carries, at the 4rear end of this cavity, a pair of binding -plates 12 and 13 respectively, which are secured in position by means of screws 12, 12a and 13a, 13n respectively, passing downward through the base 10 and entering the binding plates. Clamped beneath the binding plate 12 is the spring center contact 14 of the socket. This contact extends across the rear end of the cavity 11 to the opposite side thereof, where its end engages (when there is no lamp in the socket) beneath a` bent over lug 15 which extends upward from a conducting strip 1G, which latter is clamped beneath the binding plate 13. It will thus be seen that., when the spring contact 14 engages the lug 15, electrical connection is established between the binding plates 12 and 18; and the socket is thus short circuited. This'is of importance, since the socket is intended to be connected in series with other sockets:

and, were it not for this provision, the taking out of a. lamp from one socket would cause the extinguishnient of all the other lamps in that particular circula-that is, leaving outof consideration other safeguards hereinafter to be described. When a lamp is present inthe socket, ils end contact engages against. the center contact 14 and forces it back frein engagement with the lug 15, so that the slnrt circuit is broken; when, however, the lamp is removed, the

center contact 14 again springs forward `against the lug 15, restablishing the short circuit.

A connecting plate 17 extends across the rear end of the cavity 11, at right angles to the center contact 14 and at some distance behind the same (Fig. 4), being secured in place by means of screws 19 which extend downward through the base 10. This plate is bent upward and over, at its ends, to form bayonet projections 1B, which make contact with corresponding parts of the lamp receiver, and aid in holding the latter in place. The connecting plate 17 has riveted thereto, at its center, the end of the conducting strip 16, the other end of which, as has been said', 'is' clamped beneath the binding plate 13. Electrical connection is thus established between the connectingy plate 17 and the binding plate 13.

Adjacent that end of the connecting plate 17 which is nearest to the binding plate 13, and to one side vof the cavity 11, the base 10 is formed with a deep, rearwardly-extending recess 20, in which the plug-terminah engaging contacts are located. One ot' these 4contacts is designated 21 in the drawings (Figs. 1, 4 and 5); it consists of a spring strip bent upon itself and having one end extending laterally at right angles thereto and terminating in a lug 22, which is clamped beneath the adjacent end of the connecting plate -17,--Whereby electrical connection is established between the contact 21 and the binding plate 17. The other plug-terniinal-engaging contact, designated 23, is located opposite the contact 21; and it consists of a spring strip bent over at its end to form a lug 24 adapted to rest in the rear end of the recess 20. The contact 23 is secured in position by means of a screw 25 passing upward through the lug 24 and the base 10, and entering a curved metallic strip 26. The strip 26 extends across the top of the base 10, a suitable recess being provided for receiving it, and is clamped beneath the screws 12a which serve to retain the binding plate 12 in position,-electrical connection being thus established between the plug-terminal-engaging contact 23 and the binding plate 12. The plug-terminalengaging contacts 21 and 23 are thus in electrical connectionwith the binding plates 13 and 12; so that, should connection be established between these contacts, the socket would be short circuited across the binding plates. The contacts 21 and 23 are accessible through the open front end of the recess 20; and they are formed with outwardly bowed portions 21a and 23L respectively, the purpose of which will appear below.

The base 10 carries a shade 27` which is formed with an inwardly extending flange 2S, which is attached to the base by means of screws passing upward therethrough. A

lessees washer 30, formed of rubber or other suitable material, is clamped between the shade y and the base to insure a water-tight connection between these parts. The llange 28 of the shade is formed with a notch 31, placed so that it will be located opposite the open end' of the recess 20 when the shade is attached to the base. Through this slot, the dielectric supporting plug may be inserted into the recess 20 to engage between the contacts 21 and 23.

The lamp receiver (Figs. 3, 4 and (3) comprises an insulating member 32 having an aperture 33 formed therethrougln. which aperture is constricted at its upper end, whereby a shoulder 34 is formed. The threaded outer-lamp-terminal-engaging contact 35 is mounted in the upper end ot' the aperture 33, being secured in position by means of a metallic ring 36, fastened to its upperend, which engages the top surface ot' the insulating member 32. The lower end of the threaded contact is flared out to form a flange 37, which engages against the shoulder 34 of the insulating member. The threaded contact 35 is prevented from rotating relatively to the insulating member 32, by means of downwardly extending prongs 38, with which the ring 36 is formed, and which engage in corresponding slots formed in the insulating member 32.

The ring 36 is cut away at two diametrically opposed points to form notches 39; and depressions 40 are formed in the top surlace of the insulating member immediately beneath these notches and extending somewhatbeyo-nd the same in a direction of rotation. By this means bayonet slots are formed, which are adapted to receive the bayonet projections 18 of the connecting plate 17 of the body,-whereby electrical connection is established between the threaded contact 35 and the binding plate 13 of the body, when the lamp receiver is connected to the bo'dy. The insulating member 32 is formed with a laterally extending boss 4l, so located that it will be opposite the mouth of the recess 20 of the body when the lamp receiver is in such position that the notches 35) are opposite the projections 18 of the body. When the parts are in this position the lamp receiver may be pushed into the cavity 11 of the base 10 ot' the body, the notches 39 passingv upward past the projections 18, and the boss 41 passing through the notch 31 of the shade into the recess 20 o tl the base 10. The lamp receiver may then he turned slightly, whereupon the solid portions ot' the ring 36 pass above the projections 1S, which latter enter the depressions 40 behind the ring 36. A bayonet connection is thus established between the lamp receiver and the body. It will be seen that the boss 41, cooperating with the notch 31 in the shade and the recess 2O of the base 10, acts as a guide for facilitating the connect-ion of the separable parts of the sockets; it also aids in locking these parts in their connected condition, as will be described below.

The dielectric supporting plug (Figs. 7 and 8) comprises two oppositely disposed spring contact fingers 42, which are separated at their rear ends by an insulating strip 43, of mica or the like, interposed between them; they are adapted to be separated at their front ends by a dielectric such as 44 which is frictionally retained between these ends by the resiliency thereof. The contact fingers are bowed out at 42a to form projections adapted to engage in the bowed portions 21a and- 23a of the plug-terminalengaging contacts 21 and 23 described above, whereby the plug is retained in connection with these contacts. The contact fingers are held in position by insulating strips 45, formed of hard rubber or the like, which cover their rear ends. These strips extend rearwardly beyond the ends of the contact fingers 42, and are separated by an insulating filling 46, which is secured in position by a hollow rivet 47 of large diameter. Smaller rivets 48 pass through holes in the strips 45, contact fingers 42, and strip 43, and serve to secure these parts together. The operation of inserting these rivets has the eect of forcing the insulating material of the strips into the holes in the contact fingers 42 around the rivets, thereby eifcctually preventing contact from bein made between the fingers 42, through the rivets 48. An insulating covering 49 is molded about the vstrips 45, whereby the entire plug, with the exception of the ends of the contact fingers, is insulated. This covering has an aperture 50 formed through the rear end thereof, by means of which the plug may be manipulated, if desired, with an insulated hook, or

' other tool,V in wet weather, or when, for

other reasons, it is' likely that moist-ure has accumulated upon the surface of the plug.

When it is desired to connect the lamp receiver to the body, this may be done, as described above, by inserting the former into the cavity 11 of the base, the boss 41 being passed through the notch 31 of the shade into the recess 20 of the base 10, and turning the lamp receiver through a small angle. This turning of the lamp receiver effects the bayonet connection, and at the same time moves the boss 41 sidewise out of the recess 20 of the base, the boss 41 being then behind the flange 28 of the shade. The front end of the plug may then be passed through the notch 31 of the shade into the recess 20 of the base 10, the contact fingers 42 engaging between, and making electrical connection with, the contacts 21 and 23, and being retained in such engagement by the humps 42l entering the depressions 2,1 and 23a. The

lamp receiver cannot now be separated from the body until the plug has been withdrawn; for the reason that the plug lies in the path of the boss 41 of the lamp receiver, and prevents the latter from being rotated to release the bayonet connection. 'Ihe plug thus locks the lamp receiver in connection with the body. In case the lamp filament should be broken, or should burn out, the tension between the binding plates 12 and 13, and consequently between the contacts 23 and 21, will be increased to such an extent that the dielectric 44 ywill be broken down. When this occurs, current will pass between the contact fingers 42 of the plug, and the contacts 21 and 23 will be placed in electrical connection,the socket being thereby short circuited, and the extinguishment of the lother lamps in the circuit being thereby avoided. That this has occurred will be indicated by the extinguishment of the lamp in the particular socket; and the attendant will then remove the plug and place a fresh dielectric therein, remove the lampl receiver and replace the lamp by a new one, replace the lamp receiver, and replace the plug,-all of which operationsmay be performed in a few moments.

The socket according to my invention has several advantages, one of which is that the construction is such that the plug is located beneath the socket, between the shade and the lamp, whereby the insulating qualities of the device are considerably enhanced. Another advantage is that, the lamp receiver being separable from the body, there is no danger to a person removing the base of a broken lamp; Were the construction otherwise, there would be considerable danger, as the exposed conducting portions of the lamp base would be in connection with a high voltage circuit. Another advantage is afforded by the fact that the plug-engaging contacts 21 and 23 spring together when the plug is withdrawn therefrom,-whe're by interruption of the circuit, during the replacing of a broken down dielectric, is avoided. Other advantages lie in the ease with which the dielectric may be replaced, in the ease with which the lamp receiver may be separated from the body, in the geit eral convenience of the device, and in the simplicity of its construction.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a lamp supporting device having an opening at its lower part for the reception of a lamp base, lamp-terminalengaging contacts supported by said device, plug-terminal-engaging contacts connected with said lamp-terminal-engaging contacts, said plug-terminal-cngaging contarts being supported by said device. and being disposed therein so as to be accessible through the lower part thereof, and a dielec- .tric supporting plug adapted to be inserted into said device, substantially parallel with the lamp and beside the same, to make electrical connection with said plug-terminalengaging contacts.

2. In combination, a lamp supporting device having an opening at its lower part for the reception of a lamp base, lamp-terminalengaging contacts supported by said device, plug-terminal-engaging contacts connected with said lamp-terminal-engaging contacts, said plug-terminal-engaging contacts being supported by said device, and being disposed so as to be accessible through the lower part thereof, a shade carried by said supporting device, and a dielectric supporting plug adapted to be inserted into said device, between the lamp and said shade, so as to make electrical connection with said plug-terminal-engaging contacts.

B. In combination, an insulating body having an opening in the lower part thereof, a lamp receiver adapted to be inserted in the opening of said insulating body, plugterminal-engaging contacts carried by said insulating` body and disposed so as to be -accessible(through the said opening thereof,

and a dielectric supporting plug adapted to be inverted between said body and said lamp receiver, parallel with said lamp receiver, to make connection with said plug-terminalengaging contacts. l

4. In combination, an insulating base having an opening in the lower part thereof, a center-lamp-terminal-engaging contact carried by said base, a second contact carried by said base, plug-terminttl-engaging contacts carried by said base and electrically connected with said center-lamp-terminalengaging contact and said second-named contact, said plug-terminal-engaging contacts being disposed so as to be accessible through the said opening of said base, an insulating member provided with an outerlamp-terminal-engaging contact, means `tor connecting said insulating member with said base with said o1lter-lamp-terminal-engaging contact in connection with said secondnamed contact, and a dielectric receiving plug adapted to bc inserted into said base through the said opening thereof, parallel with said lamp receiver, to make connection with said plug-termmal-engaging contacts.

5. .ln a high tension electric lamp socket, a member carrying a center-lainp-terminalengaging contact, a second member removably connected with said tirst-named member and carrying anouter-lainp-terininal-engaging contact., plug-terminal-engaging contacts connected with the ecnter-lamp-termi- .nal-engaging contact and the outer-lampterininal-engaging contact` and a dielectric l p ahlv connected tortellini', one ot said menireeeiving plug insertible into one of said members so as to lie in the path of a portion l of the other member, whereby the members are locked in their connected position, said plug being adapted to make connection, when inserted, with said plug-terminal-engaging contacts.

(5. ik high tension electric lamp socket, comprising ,a member carrying a centerlamp-terminal-engaging contact, a second member carrying an outer-lamp-terminalengaging contact and removably connected with said first-named member, plug-terminal-engaging contacts connected with the center-lamp-terminal engaging Contact and the outer-lamp-terminal-engaging Contact and disposed so as to be accessible between said members, and a dielectric supporting plug insertible between said members to make connection with said plug-terminal-engaging contacts.

7. A high tension electric lamp socket comprising a member carrying a cent/erlamp-termin:tl-engaging contact, a second member removably connected with said firstnamed member and carrying an outer-lamptcrminal-engaging contact, `said members being provided with bayonet slots and projections between them, and said members being` prorided with oppositely disposed shoulders, plug-terminal-engaging contacts electrically connected with the center-lampterminal-engaging contact and the outerlamp-termin:il-engaging contact and accessible between vsaid members, and a dielectric supporting plug ada ptctl to be inserted bctween said members to make connection with said 1)lug-terminal-engaging contacts, said plug being disposed between the shoulders oit said members and thereby locking said members in their connection with one another.

S. high tension lamp socket comprising an insulating base having` a recess therein, a center-lamp-erininal-engaging contact carried thereby, a second contact carried by said base, said second-named cbntact having bayonet projections formed thereon, plug-terminal-engaging contacts carried. by said base, in the recess thcreoii, and elet'ctrically connected with said center-lanip-terminal-engaging contact and said second-inlined contact. an ii'isulating member having a shoulder thereon, an outer-lainIi-terminal-cngaging contact carried by said insulating niembeiand haring bayonet slots a lapted to cov operate with the bayonet proiections of said second-named contact, and a dielectric supporting plug` adapted. to be inserted into said recess to make contact with said plug-terminal-engaging` contacts, whereby said base and said insulating member are locked in their connected condition.

il. high-tension lamp-supporting dcviee compri-iin; a pair ot members detachbers being` adapted l'or connection with a support, and the other member being adapt- .reach-other when not separated by the plug,

and a dielectric supporting plug adapted to be inserted between said plug-terminal-engaging contacts. 1l. A dielectric supporting plug comprisu ing a. pair of spring contact fingers adapted to receive a dielectric between them, insulating members for supporting said contact lingers and insulating them from each other, and an insulating handle at the end of said plug, said handle being formed With an aperture therethrough for receiving a hook or the like.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

' REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. Witnesses:

MABEL REYNOLDS, CHARLES G. COPE. 

